Ex-Essex Co. Prosecutor Charged In Bribery Scheme
NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Federal authorities charged a former Essex County prosecutor Thursday over a scheme to help spring a convicted felon from jail by getting someone else to take the fall.
LISTEN: 1010 WINS' Steve Sandberg reports
LISTEN: WCBS 880's Levon Putney reports
U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said Clifford J. Minor tried to bribe a witness in order to get a repeat convicted felon facing substantial jail time for possession of a handgun out of jail, 1010 WINS' Steve Sandberg reported.
Fishman said Minor, this year's runner up for Newark mayor and former municipal judge, lied to the FBI and federal prosecutors investigating the plan.
Two others -- Abdul Williams and Jamal Muhammad -- were also charged in connection with the case.
NJ.com reported that the three men allegedly concocted a plan -- which would have been arranged by Minor -- in which Muhammad would have falsely confessed to Williams' firearms arrest.
Authorities said Minor was recorded in 2007 on Essex County jailhouse phones talking about the set up and accepting payouts of $3,500, WCBS 880's Levon Putney reported.
Minor faces up to 20 years behind bars for obstruction of justice, perjury and falsification of records.
